Velocity (36 page)

As far as I knew, Hell was being closed off. A fire that started below town that couldn’t be contained was the official answer, that it was still going on in the tunnels beneath.

The mouthwatering smell of grilled peppers and onions came from the kitchen. I poked my head in and smiled at Henry.

“I need to get you one of those cheesy Kiss the Cook aprons,” I said.

“And you thought my crystal collection was bad. Who has bad taste now?” he teased. I tossed a towel at him and he wrapped me in a kiss, holding me close. Being with him felt like home.

###

I dreamed that night of a window, framed by flowered curtains. Buttery sunshine poured through the spotless glass. I walked closer and saw Eleanor sitting on the windowseat, the black dog resting at her feet. She was watching out of the window with a serene look on her face.

As I walked to her, she turned towards me and smiled sweetly. It was disarming. Birds chirped from outside and a gentle breeze blew my hair. She looked healthy, and even the dog had shinier fur, free of burs and mats.

Eleanor patted the seat beside her. Her eyes were no longer black; they were the wise, gray eyes of my grandmother.

“It’s pretty here,” I said. I looked up above and saw crystal prisms suspended on strings, twirling gently and reflecting tiny rainbows. She always had those by the windows in her house.

“Yes, it is. A good change,” she said, staring out the window again. I could vaguely make out the shapes of children playing down below, and their laughter was faint and tinkling like bells. I knew they were the children from the orphanage, finally freed.

“Dark is dormant, for now,” Eleanor continued. “We will remain here in Limbo, all of the spirits that were caught there.”

“And Ruby?”

“Ruby became a part of Luminos on the day she died. But she seems to be at rest.”

“Everything’s changed,” I murmured.

“Everything always changes. I know you’re scared of it now, but it’s something you can’t ever stop. You have to accept it and let it work for you.”

I reached my hand down without thinking and started stroking the dog’s soft fur.

“And if the ghosts appear again? Or Dark gains its strength back?” I asked, expressing fears I would never speak when awake.

She tilted her head, speaking calmly. “You meet those days if they come. But you don’t seek them out.”

I looked out the window. “Can a dream just be a dream? Is this a dream?”

“That’s up to you.” The small smile was back.

“What do I do now?”

“Only what you can do. Live.”

And in my heart I knew she was right.

THE END

Author’s Note

I began brainstorming
The Gravity Series
back in 2008, right after my second child was born. I used to write at night as a way to get time to myself. I’d always wanted to be a writer, but I’d never committed to it. There was something about this story, though, that stuck with me. It went through many different phases until I finally settled on the storyline and characters as you see them now.

I looked into the traditional publishing process, and knew that it wasn’t for me. I’ve never sent a query letter, knowing I was too impatient to wait for rejection. In 2011, I self-published the first title. To this day, I’ve never regretted it. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Telling this story has been an awesome journey for me. I wanted to thank all of you for coming to Hell and reading about its inhabitants. This series has been deeply personal for me. The characters, in a way, feel like my kids. So, it’s bittersweet to see them complete their journey.

I’ve immensely enjoyed the experience of bringing this story to all of you. Thank you for reading.

Acknowledgments

First off, I want to thank my awesome beta readers for giving me so much help in such a short time period. Thank you guys for putting up with my ridiculous deadlines! Thanks to my family with putting up with my manic nights and zombie days.

And to Poppy, for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.

About the Author

Abigail Boyd began writing stories as a kid on dark and stormy nights. She was born and still lives in Michigan with her husband and the haunting cries of three rambunctious children. Her influences include Stephen King, Veronica Mars, and lots of processed sugar. She wishes that time had a pause button.

Velocity
is the final book in the four part Gravity Series. Visit Abigail’s blog for news on future releases.

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The edition uploaded 05-01-13